Vermont Civil War Timeline

What Happened in September

1861/09/03

The 2nd Regiment moved across the [Chain] bridge into Virginia once more, and about a mile from the bridge went into camp (Camp Advance). Here the regiment, together with the Sixth Maine built Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen.' (Peck)

1861/09/03

'Moved across the [Chain] bridge into Virginia once more, and about a mile from the bridge went into camp (Camp Advance). Here the regiments, together with the Sixth Maine built Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen.' (Peck)

1861/09/08

On the morning of September 8 the brigade was drawn up in a hollow square, a shooting party was detailed and the prisoner [William Scott, Company K, Third Vt.] was brought out to be shot. At this point an order from General McClellan was read, pardoning the condemned man at the request of the President. (Crockett)

1861/09/11

2nd Regiment was engaged or present at skirmish near Lewinsville, Va. (Battles)

1861/09/11

3rd Regiment was engaged or present at Skirmish near Lewinsville, Va. (Battles)

1861/09/12

Jesse Adams, Camp Tyson, Washington, D.C., wrote his brother, Joe: 'Our regiment and the 33rd NY. went out towards Fairfax yesterday and came very near getting into a scrape. They went out to survey and look the property over. They were not quite careful enough and the rebels got some cannon upon to a hill in the woods about 1 (Adams)

1861/09/13

First Sharp Shooter Company 'rendezvoused at Randolph early in September, 1861, and on the 13th of that month were Mustered into the state service by Charles Dana.' (Ripley)

1861/09/13

Secretary Welles, to Flag-Officer S. H. Stringham, commanding Atlantic Blockading Squadron, after explaining the necessity of reducing the complement of officers on certain classes of ships in order to man new gunboats, orders the detachment of Lieutenant Lull from USS Roanoke, to report to the Navy Department. (ORN)

1861/09/13

Flag Officer Montgomery, reporting from the Bay of Panama, indicted his intention to have USS Cyane, Commander Bissell, relieve him at that port and proceed with USS Lancaster, to patrol the coasts of Mexico and California. (ORN)

1861/09/14

The 5th Regiment was in camp a mile north of the village of St. Albans on land belonging to Henry Seymour, Esq. (Benedict)

Fifth Regiment Inf.: 'Mustered into the United States service for three years at St. Albans, Vt. ... and in a few days went to Washington.' (Peck)

1861/09/18

"The Vt. Company of United States Sharpshooters: This Company numbers 112 men and is under command of Captain Edward Weston Jr. a graduate of the Norwich Military School, who was selected by Governor Fairbanks for this responsible post. The men composing this company are all picked rifle-shots, and are worthy representatives of the Green Mountain State. They leave the encampment his afternoon at 5 o'clock for Washington." (New York Times)

1861/09/21

The Fourth Regiment, the first to be clothed in army blue, Mustered into service, left Brattleboro that evening and arrived at Washington forty-eight hours later (Crockett)

"Arrival and Departure of the Fifth Vt. Regiment" -- This regiment which has been encamped for some time past at St. Albans, Vt., broke camp on Saturday and started for the seat of war. The men did not land in this City, but proceeded direct to Jersey City where cars were taken for Washington. They are a fine, hardy-looking set of men and appear well calculated to sustain the honor of the Green Mountain State." (Date: 23 Sept., 1861). -- "The Fifth Regiment of Vt. arrived at Jersey City yesterday by the steamer Elm City, on its way to the seat of war. It numbers 1,070 men, inclusive of officers and is thoroughly armed and equipped. Colonel H. A. Smalley, the commandant of the regiment, was educated at West Point and was formerly an officer in the Second United States Artillery. (New York Times) (5th Infantry)

At a special town meeting, the town of Morristown 'voted to pay fifty dollars as a special bounty to each volunteer who served in the armies of the United States for nine months, one-half payable when he Mustered in and the rest when mustered out and 'extra pay of seven dollars per month if the present law did not secure the same or the state pay it.' (Mower 143)

The 1st Brigade broke camp along the Potomac River and marched across Long Bridge, through Washington and Georgetown, to Tenallytown, three miles north of Georgetown, where the Sixth Corps halted that night. (Benedict)

10th Regiment went into quarters at Camp Chase, near Arlington Heights (Dyer)

1862/09/09

Captain Melancton Smith, USS Mississippi, , 'rescued from the right bank of the river on my return a lieutenant of the Eighth Vt. Regiment, who was worn out by the fatigue of traveling and nearly famished, and who had escaped capture by the rebel force that captured the Federal pickets stations at Bayou des Allemands. (ORN)

1862/09/10

USS Hatteras, Commander Emmons, spoke the American Ship Charles Sprague, in ballast, from Vera Cruz, bound to New Orleans. The vessel had lost a mate and one man; yellow fever was suspected. (ORN)

1862/09/10

Colonel Smalley's leave of absence from the regular army was revoked, and he resigned from the regiment, replaced by now Colonel Lewis A. Grant. (Benedict)

1862/09/11

At the foot of Sugar Loaf Mountain, near Barnesville, Md., distinct proof of the presence of the enemy in the vicinity was afforded by a skirmish in front with a reconnoitring force of Confederate cavalry and infantry, which retired before the Union advance. The brigade was ordered into line but was not engaged. (Benedict)

1862/09/12

Marched over the mountain and camped that night near the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. (Benedict)

The brigade moved to Adamstown, on the Baltimore & Ohio R.R., eight miles south of Frederick City. A copy of Special Order 191 was found by a piece of rare good fortune in the abandoned amp of General D. H. Hill, near that city, was placed in McClellan's hands. (Benedict)

1862/09/13

USS Hatteras, Commander Emmons, boarded the Mexican schooner Jicaltipec, from Matamoras, bound to New Orleans. The vessel was in distress. He furnished them water and provisions, repaired their rudder and parted company the next day. Jicaltipec had six US soldiers who had escaped from prison in Texas. (ORN)

President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in the midst of the Civil War, announcing on September 22, 1862, that if the rebels did not end the fighting and rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states would be free. (Lincoln)

1862/09/23

The preliminary text of the Emancipation Proclamation is published as a result of the Union victory at Antietam. (LoC)

Rear Admiral Dahlgren announced that Captain Emmons 'has been appointed fleet captain of the squadron under my command, and all orders emanating from him will be respected accordingly. (ORN)

1863/09/17

Apparently, Captain Emmons' first act on the day he was appointed was to require all ironclad commanders provide 'a detailed report of the firing, hits, injuries, and casualties to the respective vessels under their command during the current month. (ORN)

1863/09/19

Commander Edmund R. Colhoun, commanding US Ironclad Steamer Weehawken, indicates he has just received fleet Captain Emmons' order to 'furnish a detailed report … and will make it as soon as possible. (ORN)

Portus Baxter Smith, 11th Regiment, made an entry in his journal. (more)

1864/09/03

Portus Baxter Smith, 11th Regiment, made an entry in his journal. (more)

1864/09/03

Commander R. Handy assumed temporary command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, as the officer next in rank, due to an attack of yellow fever suffered by Captain Greene, who was unable to attend to the business of the squadron. (ORN)

Portus Baxter Smith, 11th Regiment, made an entry in his journal. (more)

1864/09/06

Secretary Welles ordered US bark Midnight, Acting Master J. C. Wells, in Philadelphia, to proceed to Key West and report to Captain Greene. Wells was to proceed to Tampa if yellow fever was still prevailing at Key West. (ORN)

Private Warren D. Mather, Co. I, Sixth Vt., describes the incident at Gilbert's Ford two days previous, in a letter to his wife. (Italo)

1864/09/15

Portus Baxter Smith, 11th Regiment, made an entry in his journal. (more)

1864/09/15

Secretary Welles, sent a congratulatory letters to Commander Colvocoresses, regarding his expeditions into Georgia, stating in part, 'The Department desires to return to you and those under your command its thanks for your zealous and good services to the country on the occasions referred to. (ORN)

Portus Baxter Smith, 11th Regiment, made an entry in his journal. (more)

1864/09/16

Major General Milroy, at Tullahoma, Tenn., to Major B. H. Polk, Assistant Adjutant General: 'I received a dispatch from Colonel Krzyanowski this morning stating that Captain Morton, U. S. Navy, informed him this morning that Roddey left Guntersville, [Ala.], yesterday, and was marching in direction of Lebanon. (ORN)

Portus Baxter Smith, 11th Regiment, made an entry in his journal. (more)

1864/09/23

Secretary Welles designated Commodore C. K. Stribling to command the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. Stribling was to relieve Captain Greene, presently in temporary command of the squadron. 'Captain Greene can be retained in the squadron in an appropriate capacity should you desire his services, or return home if it should be his wish to do so.' (ORN)

1864/09/23

Rear Admiral Dahlgren bemoaned the detachment of Captain Colvocoresses as commander of USS Saratoga, and requested an efficient commander to Saratoga. He stated 'Though a sailing ship, without steam, yet the Saratoga has a crew which, by its numbers and drill, is well fitted for landing parties that few steamers here have, for, when the engineers (who can not be taken from the engines) are set aside, there are few steamers here that can spare boats sufficient in size or number to be of service in landing. The withdrawal of Captain Colvocoresses deranges several plans which I had in view, when the chance offered. (ORN)

1864/09/23

Abstract log of USS Saratoga: From 8 to meridian commander went on a reconnoisance up the Ashepoo River. At 7 p.m. commander returned. (ORN)

Emperor Maximilian approved the 'Regulations and Instructions' prepared by Matthew Fontaine Maury to encourage emigration of Southerners to Mexico. The Emperor also appointed Maury director of the proposed National Observatory. (NavHist)

1865/09/15

Landsman Henry S. Webster, U.S. Navy, was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on this date. (more)